With Alvin Kamara and rookie Devin Neal sidelined for Week 16, former Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines signed to the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday.
The move gives New Orleans a veteran option who understands NFL offenses, protections, and situational football.
Over Hines’ five seasons as a member of the Colts, he accumulated 1,205 rushing yards, 1,725 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns from 2018 to 2022.
A dual-threat back who can line up out of the backfield, catch passes at a high rate, and deliver consistent production in critical situations, Hines offers exactly what the Saints need at a moment when its backfield depth has been stretched thin.
New Orleans will host the 3–11 New York Jets in Week 16 with their running back room in flux and playoff positioning long gone. But for a team still eager for stability and answers entering the final three games of the season, the addition of a veteran like Hines could be beneficial to a very young roster.
Neal to IR, Audric Estime & Evan Hull In
The Saints’ decision to add Hines came as injuries continued to pile up at one of the most important positions in their offense.
Neal has already been ruled out for Week 16 after suffering a hamstring injury last week. Neal had started the last three games, stepping into a larger role after Kamara went down with a knee injury that has now sidelined him for multiple weeks.
Kamara, the engine of New Orleans’ offense when healthy, is not expected to practice at all this week and appears unlikely to suit up against the Jets.
With Kendre Miller also lost for the season, the Saints found themselves alarmingly thin in the backfield. Prior to signing Hines, the only healthy running backs on the active roster were recent free-agent additions Audric Estime and Evan Hull.
Estime will likely draw the start on Sunday, with Hull lining up in a change-of-pace role.
Hines, 29, was a fourth-round pick by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft out of N.C. State, where he rushed for 1,112 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final collegiate season. With the Colts, he carved out a role as a reliable No. 2 back who thrived in space and on passing downs.
His best season came in 2020, when he totaled 862 yards from scrimmage, caught 63 passes, and scored seven touchdowns. He also added value on special teams, scoring four total return touchdowns over his career.
What Former Colts RB Brings to Saints
Hines’ path to New Orleans hasn’t been linear. After being traded from the Colts to the Buffalo Bills during the 2022 season, his career was derailed by a jet ski accident in the summer of 2023 that resulted in ACL and MCL injuries. The setback cost him two full seasons as he worked his way back to football.
He spent the 2024 offseason with the Cleveland Browns before landing on injured reserve during the preseason, then later resurfaced with the Los Angeles Chargers. Hines appeared in three games for Los Angeles earlier this season — his first regular-season action since 2022 — but received just two rushing attempts before being released in October.
Despite the limited touches, New Orleans sees enough to take a closer look. At minimum, Hines offers a skill set that fits what the Saints are currently missing: pass-catching ability out of the backfield, experience in pass protection, and comfort operating in hurry-up or third-down situations.
With Taysom Hill also factoring into the run game occasionally, Hines’ versatility could help stabilize offensive sequencing rather than forcing New Orleans into predictable looks.
There’s also a realistic path for Hines to be elevated to the active roster as soon as Sunday. With Kamara and Neal sidelined, the Saints may not have the luxury of easing him in slowly. Even a limited role — third downs, screen packages, or situational snaps — would represent meaningful help for an offense searching for rhythm.
As the Saints close out a difficult season, moves like this signal a team still evaluating with a will to compete still in 2025. Kellen Moore looks to close out his first run as head coach of New Orleans with an exciting cliffhanger for the future.
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